a life of retreating in God's love through family, friends, quilting, and museum

Monday, 16 December 2013

Monday - Advent 3 - Joy and Healing

Prayer:
Come Lord Jesus and hear our prayer.Where there is sadness,You bring
us joy.Where there is isolation,You bring us love.Where there are dried up ideas,You bring us creativity.Come Lord Jesus and hear our prayer.You strength us each day as we come before
You reading Your word and saying our prayers.Come Lord Jesus.Come.Amen.

ReadIsaiah 35: 1- 10

Isaiah
34 is a chapter of judgements against nations.The words of this chapter are
dismal.The people are still in exile
and getting discouraged.Then in Isaiah
35,there is hope and joy.Isaiah prophecies and tells people that there
will be salvation for the people.Their
exile will end and they will return to Jerusalem.They will return with joy and praise.

Isaiah
writes that the desert and dried land will be glad and the wilderness will rejoice
and blossom.Everything that was dried
out and used up will be renewed --the
forests will become like the cedar trees and forests of Lebanon.Lebanon was known for their cedar trees that
grew to incredible heights (100 feet) and widths (6 feet). The trees were used to build the palace of
David and the Temple of Solomon as well as ships and boats.

And
through all these glorious gifts, the people will see and worship God.Their feeble hands will be strengthen so they
can rebuild Jerusalem. Isaiah tells the people to be strong and do not fear for
God will come and save them.

Physical
disabilities will disappear (remember that for the Old Testament people,any physical disability was due to someone in
their family sinning).The eyes of the
blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will hear,the lame will leap, those who can not talk
will suddenly shout for joy.

Everything
is renewed.The desert will have
streams and pools bubbling with life.Flora and fauna will grow by these desert streams and pools.

And
the highway (remember that one mentioned in Isaiah 40?It’s back again!)will be called the Way of Holiness.Only those who walk in the way of God will
walk along the Way of Holiness.Any
threat of wild animal will be eliminated.The redeemed will walk along the Way of Holiness.The ransomed of the LORD will return and
they will all enter Jerusalem with singing and with complete joy.Sorrow and sadness will flee away.

What
great images this portion of scripture are for the people who are presently
living in exile and away from the place where they worship.

What
great images do we have today of our Church – the place where people can come
with great joy and singing and worship God?How do we bring joy and healing into our Churches so that all who enter
may find the healing of God?

Prayer:Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.In
your Kingdom, O Lord, wolves lie down with lambs without fear. We pray for those
who live in fear… those who are sick, the suffering, and those in distress.Come Lord Jesus and heal all injuries,
comfort all grief, and settle all wrongs. In all things may Your will be
done.Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer. ComeO
Living Christ and hear our prayers.Ever lasting King,restore us and show us the glorious light of
Your love, that we might be saved. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

About Me

A 51 year old Presbyterian Quilter - Museum Volunteer who still loves to sing "Jesus loves me" at the top of my lungs.... much to our next wall neighbours aching ears :) . These daily devotionals are written to bring you the Good News and inspiration into your day. And sometimes there are comments about life in the Manse, quilting, and Museum :)